Entry level jobs for the Social Welfare sector

Brunswick Organic Nursery is a registered charity based in Bishopthorpe, York, which provides a productive and rewarding workplace environment for people with learning disabilities (‘workers’) to grow and thrive in. We build skills and confidence, support wellbeing and develop independence through offering opportunities in different work areas. These include horticulture (growing organic fruit and vegetables, growing plants at the garden nursery, and a contract gardening service for the local community), crafts, woodwork, cooking, and office administration.

About the role

Are you passionate about organic vegetable growing?

Do you enjoy enabling and supporting others to learn and develop? 

Can you build genuine connections with the people you work alongside?

Are you organised and able to plan ahead and keep records up to date?

Are you a thoughtful and supportive team manager? 

Our Land Crops teams work across two sites: our main site and a listed walled garden, and grow a wide range of organic vegetable and fruit crops. We sell these in our shop and also to local businesses. In this role, you will lead small teams of people with learning disabilities, who have a range of skills and abilities, to grow organic vegetables and fruit. You have responsibility for leading the work area of Land Crops including all the planning for crop rotations, growing and care of the land and soil.  

Who are we looking for?

This role is about both growing and people. Growing-wise, you will be enthusiastic and knowledgeable about growing a range of vegetable and fruit crops on at least a smallholding scale. Our ideal candidate will have a good knowledge of organic growing and/or some experience of it. In addition to good knowledge and experience of growing, we’re looking for someone who thrives on enabling and supporting others with a range of skills and abilities to learn and develop. You must be able to build genuine connections with the people you work alongside, be able to think holistically about people and take responsibility for the team’s welfare whilst at work. Finally, the responsibilities of this role need you to have excellent organisation skills, an understanding of, and ability to ensure, that documents and records are completed using our IT system, and supportive people management skills.

Skills and experience required:

· Experience of growing a wide range of vegetable and fruit crops, preferably with experience of organic growing.

· Experience of maintaining growing records.

· Experience of working with and supplying customers.

· Knowledge and ideally experience of working inclusively with others.

· Experience of supporting people with a range of skills and abilities.

· Ability to motivate others and create a positive and rewarding work environment.

· Good IT skills using Word, Outlook and Office 365.

Hours: 10 to 15 per week. This role requires a flexibility to work evening and flexible hours to attend Board and Committee meetings and the AGM. 

The Role

This role provides essential administrative support to our Board of Trustees at regular ordinary meetings (including agenda setting), committee meetings and the Annual General Meeting.  

You will be responsible for producing timely and accurate minutes (usually within seven days) of board and other meetings. You will also track and circulate reports and other documentation to trustees and others as appropriate. 

Another key responsibility is ensuring meetings are held in accordance with the governing document.  In addition, you will oversee the timetable for the board review of strategic documents, including the organisational risk register, policies and procedures, and ensure updated documents are added to internal IT systems, as required.

There is also the opportunity for an experienced candidate to get more involved in other areas such as managing meeting schedules, agenda prepping, producing documents such as the Diversity profile, and our Leadership Self-Assessment portfolio.

About you

This role provides essential administrative support to our Board of Trustees at regular ordinary meetings (including agenda setting), committee meetings and the Annual General Meeting.  

You will be responsible for producing timely and accurate minutes (usually within seven days) of board and other meetings. You will also track and circulate reports and other documentation to trustees and others as appropriate. 

Another key responsibility is ensuring meetings are held in accordance with the governing document.  In addition, you will oversee the timetable for the board review of strategic documents, including the organisational risk register, policies and procedures, and ensure updated documents are added to internal IT systems, as required.

There is also the opportunity for an experienced candidate to get more involved in other areas such as managing meeting schedules, agenda prepping, producing documents such as the Diversity profile, and our Leadership Self-Assessment portfolio.

Applications

At Citizens Advice, we recognise the positive value of diversity, promoting equity and celebrating inclusion. We welcome and encourage job applications from people of all backgrounds.

Please download the application pack on our website and submit your CV and a covering letter outlining how you fit the person specification to Emma Vint.

Please also complete and submit our diversity monitoring form with your application.

The closing date for this vacancy is 9am, Monday 22nd June 2026.

Thank you for your interest in Citizens Advice Southampton.

Location: Office based in Central Southampton. Hybrid working may be possible on completion of the probation period.

The Role

This post is about providing much needed support for our busy Senior Management Team. You will work closely with our Senior Management Team, helping to manage priorities, supporting with information for funders and stakeholders, and ensuring the smooth day-to-day running of the team’s workload. This is a new role within our service that you can ‘make your own’. The role has been created to relieve some pressure from the senior team and enable us to work more effectively and strategically.

You will provide confidential administrative support to all the team, including HR administration support.

About you

You will be an experienced, confident, and highly organised professional with excellent communication skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities. You will be comfortable working both independently and collaboratively, with a proactive and solutions focused approach

This role is an excellent opportunity for you to develop your skills and career – and make a difference at a time when our help has never been needed more.

Citizens Advice Southampton is a friendly and dedicated team of paid staff and volunteers. We value our team enormously, and paid staff can expect an environment in which they have opportunities to develop themselves whilst supporting others.

We offer a salary which is competitive in the charity sector, as well as a generous holiday allowance and other benefits including a NEST pension scheme, an outstanding Employee Assistance Programme including a GP helpline, and Life Assurance for paid staff.

Applications

At Citizens Advice, we recognise the positive value of diversity, promoting equity and celebrating inclusion. We welcome and encourage job applications from people of all backgrounds.

Please download the application pack on our website and submit your CV and a covering letter outlining how you fit the person specification to Emma Vint.

Please also complete and submit our diversity monitoring form with your application.

The closing date for this vacancy is 9am, 26th June 2026.

Thank you for your interest in Citizens Advice Southampton.

Location: Office based in Central Southampton. Hybrid working may be possible on completion of the probation period.

The Role

The Marketing and Communications Officer will lead on promoting the work, services and impact of Citizens Advice Southampton. You will help ensure that local people know how to access advice, that stakeholders understand our impact, and that our voice is heard in local conversations about poverty, inequality and social justice.

Working closely with colleagues across the organisation, you will deliver clear, accessible and inclusive communications that reflect Citizens Advice values and strengthen our profile across Southampton.

The main tasks for the role include, but are not limited to: 

Marketing and Promotion

• Plan and deliver marketing activity to increase awareness of Citizens Advice Southampton services among local communities.
• Promote key services, campaigns and projects using a mix of digital and offline channels.
• Support targeted outreach to under‑represented or vulnerable groups in Southampton.

 Communications and Content

• Manage and regularly update our website content.
• Create engaging content for social media (e.g. posts, graphics, short videos).
• Draft clear and accessible written communications, including newsletters, leaflets, posters and email updates.
• Ensure all communications are consistent with Citizens Advice branding, tone of voice and accessibility standards.

Campaigns and Impact

• Support local and national Citizens Advice campaigns by communicating key messages locally.
• Help translate research, data and case studies into accessible content for the public and stakeholders.
• Work with colleagues to showcase impact stories and outcomes.

 Stakeholder and Media Engagement

• Support relationships with local partners, community organisations and funders through effective communications.
• Assist with media relations, including drafting press releases and responding to local media enquiries where appropriate.

Monitoring and Improvement

• Monitor engagement and reach across communications channels (e.g. website analytics, social media insights).
• Use data and feedback to improve marketing and communications activity over time

 Other duties and responsibilities

• Any other reasonable tasks in keeping with the role
• Promote the aims and objectives of Citizens Advice Southampton
• Abide by and assist in the implementation of organisational policies and procedures including Health and Safety, IT, information and equality and diversity policies.

About you

We are looking for someone who ideally bring charity sector experience in communications, and experience of supporting strong relationships with partners and funders. You will share our passion for community wellbeing and social justice. You’ll be just as comfortable working independently as you will collaboratively alongside our dedicated teams, using your skills to promote awareness of the amazing work done by Citizens Advice Southampton.

The role will involve leading the charity through key challenges including funding pressures, local government reorganisation, and evolving service delivery needs.

Applications

At Citizens Advice, we recognise the positive value of diversity, promoting equity and celebrating inclusion. We welcome and encourage job applications from people of all backgrounds.

Please download the application pack on our website and submit your CV and a covering letter outlining how you fit the person specification to Emma Vint.

Please also complete and submit our diversity monitoring form with your application.

The closing date for this vacancy is 9am on Friday 26th June 2026.

Thank you for your interest in Citizens Advice Southampton.

Job Title: Communications & Engagement Officer  

Reports to: Senior Communications Manager

Location:Contracted to Breaking Barriers’ office in London, with some expectation of travel 

Terms:22.5 hours per week over 3 or 4 days – open to flexible working arrangements

Contract:Permanent

Salary:£30,500 - £33,500 (inclusive of London weighting), pro-rata

Purpose of the Role

The Communications & Engagement Officer is a key role within Breaking Barriers’ Income and Engagement Directorate. It helps refugees find meaningful employment through communications and fundraising activities that maintain and grow relationships with partners, funders, supporters and relevant influential organisations and individuals.

The post holder reports to the Senior Communications Manager, and works closely with the Head of Public Engagement, Senior Digital Marketing Manager and Fundraising & Partnerships Officer. They also lead or participate in activities involving colleagues across Breaking Barriers’ teams and our refugee clients.

This role contributes to the implementation of our communications, engagement and fundraising strategies, and is closely involved in team planning – including input into operational plans and communications campaigns to steward and inspire key audiences.

The Communications & Engagement Officer is responsible for the planning and creation of day-to-day communications across our owned channels, with a particular focus on social media. They are also responsible for managing social media interactions and outreach, and for creating selected content for Breaking Barriers’ website.

The post holder helps the Senior Communications Manager to ensure that organisational content complies with brand guidelines. And they play a key role in data management – maintaining our multi-media asset bank and the storytelling data within our Salesforce CRM.

This role will suit a team player who is able to build strong relationships across Breaking Barriers to support content creation, ethical storytelling and impact. The post-holder should be comfortable in a fast-paced environment, solution-focused and creative, whilst having a good eye for detail. And, of course, they should have a passion for stewarding, inspiring and mobilising audiences through high-quality, engaging communications.

Key Responsibilities

1. Communications planning and delivery (60%)

· Work with the Senior Communications Manager to manage the communications calendar.

· Collaborate with colleagues across Breaking Barriers, especially the Income & Engagement and Services teams, to source content that reaches, engages, stewards our key audiences – including partners, funders and individual supporters.

· Plan, create and schedule written and multi-media (graphics, videos, photos) content on social media platforms.

· Plan and create or coordinate longer-form content, including case studies, articles and blogs.

· Contribute to the delivery of integrated communications campaigns that support income generation, brand awareness and positioning amongst key audiences.

· Support the continual improvement of our communications by monitoring and evaluating their own work and implementing recommendations.

· Support the development of communications, engagement and fundraising strategies and input into team planning.

2. Community and supporter engagement (30%)

· Manage and engage with our organic social media communities.

· Pro-actively engage with relevant organisations and individuals via social media, in line with agreed strategies.

· Help develop and manage our growing community of storytellers with lived experience of life as a refugee.

3. Other responsibilities (10%)

· Update storytelling data in the Salesforce CRM, and undertake other administrative tasks.

· Take responsibility for maintaining Breaking Barriers’ asset bank of photographs, videos and graphics.

· Advise and support colleagues on compliance with brand guidelines, and create brand resources.

· Represent the Public Engagement team at selected events, including photographing or filming key moments and activities.

· Support other teams with ad-hoc requests for communications support.

· Take a proactive approach to professional development.

· Take on other marketing and communications tasks as required.

Person Specification
Essential

· Demonstrable knowledge of and/or interest in refugee, employment or migration sectors

· Experience in a communications or fundraising role (this doesn't have to be in the UK)

· A demonstrable understanding of key communications and fundraising principles, whether through direct experience or study, and including:

o Understanding audiences

o User journeys

o Developing key messaging

o Audience stewardship

o Working with brand guidelines

· Experience of creating high quality campaigns or content to inspire or drive action

· Experience creating written and multi-media (photography/graphics/video) content for social media, websites and/or emails

· Strong copywriting, editing and proofing skills, and the ability to tailor content for different audiences and channels

· Excellent relationship-building skills, and confidence working with colleagues at all levels of seniority

· Ability to work on own initiative, take responsibility for work, and learn from challenges and successes

· A proactive and creative approach to problem solving and idea generation

· Comfortable within a fast-paced team and able to prioritise multiple projects

· Ability to pay close attention to detail, to maintain communications quality and accuracy

· Experience with administrative, team communication and workload management applications, preferably including the Microsoft Office 365 suite.

· Experience with one or more of the following:

o Design tools such as Canva

o Photography and film editing

o Website CMS software

o Email broadcast platforms

o Social media scheduling platforms

Desirable

· Lived Experience of Breaking Barriers’ cause

· Experience using Salesforce, or another CRM system

· Knowledge of GDPR and data protection principles as they apply to communications and fundraising

· Experience of monitoring and evaluating communications or fundraising activities

Other considerations:

· Breaking Barriers is committed to protecting an adult’s right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect and for their views, wishes and beliefs to be fully taken into account when deciding action. 

· We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity status, race, religion or belief. 

· Breaking Barriers particularly welcomes applicants with experience of seeking asylum and/or a refugee background. 

As a member of the Disability Confident Scheme, we are committed to offering an accessible recruitment process and guarantee an interview to all applicants with a disability who meet the minimum criteria for the role.  

The Sheppard Trust provides homes for older women in housing need, and we support them to live independently.  We reduce loneliness and isolation by fostering a supportive community spirit.   

We're about to move to brand-new, purpose built accommodation near Hampton Court village in Surrey, with 60 one bedroomed flats and a range of communal facilities.  Our residents will live independently in their homes, with assistance to access the appropriate support services to maintain independence.We want them to live full and active lives in an inclusive, thriving community which is well regarded in our local community.

We're a small friendly team who care deeply about getting this project off to an excellent start and achieving our aims.  We operate with these values:  respectful, inclusive, conscientious, compassionate, honest.

We’re looking for someone proactive and flexible to help us for the first six months, as we set up the building, set up our new systems, and move everyone in.  This will be a really varied role where no two days are the same, and will be a mixture of administration and practical tasks.  You could be getting our staff kitchen set up, preparing the paperwork for a new resident, helping someone set up their heating controls or utility accounts, setting up and updating databases, answering queries at reception, logging maintenance tasks or helping with an event.

You might well have some housing experience already, or have worked with older people, but we also value transferrable skills, lived values and the ability to learn quickly.

An enhanced DBS check will be required.  This will be a fixed term contract from mid-July 2026 for six months.  We are open to offering this role on either a full time basis or an alternative working pattern of at least 25 hours per week.

You’ll bring:

· Confidence in organising and prioritising a varied workload

· Good administrative skills and ability to create and keep accurate records

· A proactive, flexible “can do” approach and the ability to “hit the ground running”

· Good communication skills with a wide range of people.

· a strong commitment to safeguarding and to respecting diversity and inclusion. 

We can offer:

· a salary of £26,000 - 28,000 per annum pro rata

· membership of the Social Housing Pension Scheme (defined contribution)

· a friendly and supportive working environment with strong values, good staff facilities (and free tea and coffee)

· lots of variety and a range of experience

· the opportunity to be part of setting up something brand new from the very start.

For more information please see the full job description and person specification attached.

The Anti-Racism Organiser will sit at the heart of Himmah's organising work, building relationships in racialised and working-class communities, supporting members through advice and casework, and turning lived experience, collective memory and community knowledge into collective power.

This is a role for someone who believes that anti-racism is the organised struggle to shift power, resources, voice and decision-making into the hands of Black, Asian and other racialised communities.

In this role, you will:

• Build relationships across racialised and working-class communities through the Race Equality Justice Council Nottingham
• Organise meetings, listening sessions and local activity in priority neighbourhoods
• Support members through advice, casework and navigating systems
• Identify patterns in issues and turn them into collective action and campaigns
• Work with partners, coalitions and public bodies to challenge institutions and shift power
• Contribute to political education and community-led organising activity
• Work across the Race and Class Arts Lab to connect organising with cultural and narrative work
• Engage with the Fanon Centre to support approaches to care, reflection and sustainability in the work

The Collaborative Arts Organiser will sit at the heart of Himmah's cultural work, working onthe design, oversight and delivery of collaborative and participatory arts, narrative and heritage projects that bring communities together across race and class. The post-holder will be primarily based with the Race and Class Arts Lab, while contributing across all three Hubs of
the Race, Arts and Heritage strategy.

This is a role for someone who believes that art, culture and heritage are essential tools for organising and liberation, that creative practice can build solidarity across difference, surface community histories, and challenge the dominant narratives that uphold racial and class injustice.

In this role, you will:

• Design and deliver participatory arts and heritage projects rooted in communities
• Bring people together across race and class to build relationships and shared work
• Work with artists, facilitators and participants to co-create projects
• Organise workshops, exhibitions, performances and public activity
• Build relationships with community groups and cultural partners
• Support work that surfaces histories of racism, migration and class
• Contribute to wider organising, narrative and political education activity
• Help ensure the work is grounded, ethical and shaped by the communities involved

For more than 140 years, the Forces Employment Charity has proudly supported Service leavers, veterans, and their families in building successful civilian careers. We provide veterans with life-long, life-changing support, jobs, and training opportunities, regardless of circumstances, rank, length of service, or reason for leaving. By working for FEC, you will become part of a vibrant team living the charity’s values: Expert, Supportive, Passionate, Open and Honest, Resilient, and Collaborative.

​

Brief role description

The Custody Support and Case Worker (CSCW) will enrol participants, enhance job readiness, and provide ongoing support through positive relationships. Responsibilities include signposting relevant activities, addressing barriers and coordinating post-release opportunities. This role involves extensive engagement with participants and partner organisations to ensure a seamless transition and support continuity.

​

Who we are looking for

We are seeking a highly organised and self-motivated individual with a strong ability to collaborate effectively with internal and external stakeholders, building positive relationships at all levels, who brings excellent IT skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office and Outlook, alongside a confident and outgoing approach supported by strong communication, interpersonal and influencing abilities. You will have well-developed presentation and planning skills and be able to engage and motivate individuals, while working comfortably both independently and as part of a tea, taking ownership of your performance, maintaining strong organisational standards, contributing to your ongoing professional development and applying a proactive, solutions-focused approach in a dynamic environment. ​

​

Interested? Want to know more about the Charity? Check out our website.

​

Eager to know more about the role? Have a look at the Job Description.

​

What’s in it for you? Check out our Benefits.

​

Have we convinced you to apply? If so, submit your CV and Covering Letter by ​Friday, 19 June 2026.

​

Got questions about the role? Get in touch with the People Team at Forces Employment Charity.

​

Please note: Applications will be reviewed and interviews conducted throughout the duration of this advert; therefore, we may at any time bring the closing date forward. We encourage all interested applicants to apply as soon as possible. If you are an internal applicant, please ensure you have made The People Team aware before applying. We are committed to equal opportunities and improving the working lives of our staff by fostering an inclusive, supportive environment where everyone, including those with disabilities, can thrive, develop, and achieve their full potential. We actively encourage applications from individuals with diverse backgrounds and ensure reasonable adjustments are made to support candidates with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. We actively recruit citizens of all backgrounds, but the nature of our work in specific departments means that residency and security requirements can be more tightly defined than others. You will be asked about this throughout the recruitment process.

​

​

​

#LI-DNI

​

Helen Bamber Foundation Group has experienced significant growth and change in recent years. The 
finance department is integral to the continued success of the organisation. This role presents an exciting 
opportunity to contribute to the development of the finance team, changing to meet the growing needs of 
the charity.

Working closely with the Senior Finance Assistant, the Finance Assistant will undertake a broad range of 
responsibilities and play a key role in ensuring financial information is processed accurately and in a timely 
manner. The work directly enables the production of management accounts that support clear decision making within the charities.

The Finance Assistant will gain hands-on exposure to accounts payable, bank reconciliations, month-end 
journals, VAT, and finance systems work, with clear opportunities to progress within the team as skills 
develop. 

The Finance Assistant will help maintain positive supplier relationships through the timely and accurate 
payment of invoices, and will support the Senior Finance Assistant with bank reconciliations, petty cash, 
card transactions and month-end journals, helping to safeguard the charities’ assets.
The ideal candidate will demonstrate a proactive and adaptable approach, excellent attention to detail, 
strong time management skills, and experience supporting teams effectively.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Store Associate to join our friendly Store in Armagh!

This will be a fantastic opportunity for someone who is passionate, motivated, and keen to help raise funds to support the most vulnerable children and young people in the UK.

As a Store Associate you will support the Store Manager, other Store Associates, and volunteers to help run a busy store, you will have the opportunity to develop and learn within the store.  Weekend work will be a key part of the role.

Store Location: 21-26 Scotch Street, Armagh, Northern Ireland, BT61 7BY

Hours: 7 Per Week (Permanent)

Some of the Key Responsibilities include:

• Excellent Customer Service
• Visual Merchandising
• Organising Stock, Pricing and Steaming stock before going on the shop floor.
• Ensuring Stock is generated over the door by members of the public and ensuring donors sign up for gift aid.
• Implement any promotion in the store as directed by Head Office or your Area Business Manager or your Store Manager.
• Achieve and maintain high standards of housekeeping, organisation and cleanliness throughout the Store, including the sales floor and stockroom areas.
• Actively encourage the public to donate saleable stock.
• Rotate stock on a daily basis so that no garment remains on the shop floor for any longer than the agreed time limits.

The Ideal candidates should demonstrate in their application:

• Experience of working in a retail environment
• Experience of cash handling
• Experience of working in a customer service environment
• Experience of working on own initiative
• Knowledge of working in a fashion environment
• Basic IT skills

The full Job description and Person profile is linked under the Additional Info section. Please read this before applying to ensure that the job matches your skills and experience.

* As part of Barnardo's ongoing commitment to safeguarding, our retail recruitment process requires that successful candidates are asked to consent to a Basic criminal records check.

Interview Date: Where an interview date has been given in the advert, this will be the only date available. Please check this before proceeding with your application.

Please note due to the high volume of applications for some posts, this advert might close before the displayed closing date.  We recommend that you apply for this role as soon as possible

The Retail section consists of more than 700 Barnardo's shops across the UK. These high-street stores are reliant on donations from the public and corporate supporters and generate funds from the sale of these donated items. There are a wide range of shops, from traditional charity stores to book shops and furniture. The Trading division produces and sells a range of products, including cards and gifts.

About Barnardo's

At Barnardo's we believe in children – no matter who they are, what they have done or what they have been through. Please read about our basis and values following the link below. You will be asked questions relating to them as part of the recruitment process for this role.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) is reflected in our values and our practice, and we have invested in this area of our work to ensure that we can deliver on our commitments to be an inclusive employer. EDI is a key enabler of our purpose as a charity and we want to ensure that the diversity of our teams is reflective of the communities we serve and that we continue to learn and develop our work with a focus on inclusion. We particularly encourage applications from candidates from Black, Asian and  Minoritised Ethnic Communities, candidates who are LGBT+ and Disabled candidates. 

Our basis and values

We are recruiting for a Refuge Worker to join our team in Cambridgeshire; the scope on this job involves….

Job Title: Refuge Worker

Location: Fenlands, Cambridgeshire (However, there may be requirement to work in the Mid Cambridgeshire area when needed) 

Salary: £26,701.36 per annum
Contract type: Full time, Permanent

Hours: 37.5

We want kind and empathic people to work at Refuge, who believe in equality, diversity, and inclusion, are experts in their area of knowledge, want to make a positive difference and improve the lives of the women and children we support.

This is an opportunity to join Refuge as a Refuge Worker to provide high quality practical and emotional support to survivors of domestic violence and their children living in our refuges.

As part of this role, you will be required to participate in an out-of-hours on call rota 

This post is restricted to women due to the nature of the role. The Occupational Requirement under Schedule 9 (part 1) of the Equality Act 2010 applies. 

You must have a valid driving licence and use of a vehicle for this role as the location is semi rural and has limited public transport.

Closing date: 9.00am on 12 June 2026

Interview date: 22 June 2026

Benefits

Refuge offers a variety of exciting opportunities to learn, develop and grow in your career. We recognise the value everyone brings to the organisation to achieve our aims and are dedicated to developing and rewarding our staff. More details of our benefits can be found in Job Information Pack.

About Toynbee Hall

Based in the East End of London since 1884, Toynbee Hall is a charity working alongside people facing poverty, injustice, and inequality to build a fairer East London. We provide vital advice and support, working in partnership to tackle unfairness and ensure everyone has an equal chance to thrive.

We have recently launched a new strategic plan which reinforces that our purpose is to build a fairer future with an end to poverty, injustice and inequality.

We work towards this by:

• Addressing poverty and injustice through advice and support and influencing systemic change.

• Shifting power to people and communities affected by injustice and inequality.

• Collaborating to end poverty and build fairer systems and institutions. What we want to see in the world starts with our community and our organisation.

This means:

• Working together to build a thriving local community where people have the resources they need, feel their voices are heard and are optimistic about the future.

• Being a good employer, where people are treated fairly, feel engaged and empowered, and work together to achieve our shared vision.

• Acknowledging the role Toynbee Hall has historically played in civic society while recognising that our role now is to shift power, to be an effective partner, and to amplify voices that are less likely to be heard.

What we learn from our work in east London we use to inform and influence wider policy – working to influence change in structures, systems and policies.

Department background

The Debt Advice Team at Toynbee Hall provides crucial support to individuals and families struggling with financial burdens. Funded by the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS), this team delivers expert guidance and practical solutions to help clients manage and reduce their debt. 

Scope of Role

The Traineeship will last for 12 months. This role involves gaining practical experience by observing and participating in interviews to understand clients’ financial problems, researching options, and helping clients make informed decisions. The role includes structured classroom-based learning, supervised practice, and mandatory secondments across partner advice agencies in London.

Key Responsibilities

1. Accurate, Effective, and Individually Tailored Advice

Work under supervision to observe and learn how to provide effective debt advice, including interviewing clients, researching options, and empowering clients to make informed decisions. 

2. Detailed Case Records

Assist in maintaining detailed case records, ensuring all work meets auditing and quality standards, and meets funder requirements. 

3. Training and Development

Complete a structured training programme within the six-month period, covering technical debt advice, client management, and financial regulations. During the initial training period, trainees will be expected to attend intensive classroom-based training and supervised learning activities four to five days per week. Additional training will be based on shadowing, on-site learning, tests, external training courses, etc.

4. Teamwork

Be an active member of the team, identifying opportunities for your development and contributing to collective goals. 

5. Travel

Travel across London is required, including attendance at partner organisations, advice sites, and mandatory secondment placements across London boroughs.

Following the initial training period, the role will require a minimum of four days per week working from Toynbee Hall or partner office locations. One additional working day from home may be agreed where there is a suitable home-working environment and this aligns with operational requirements.

6. Other

Undertake additional tasks as delegated by Management.

Person Specification

1. Experience and Skills

• Willingness to work towards obtaining an accredited qualification in debt advice.
• Basic IT and telephone skills, and ability to use an online-based Client Management System (CMS) to deliver advice across multiple channels and maintain case records.
• Ability to give and receive feedback objectively and sensitively.
• Ability to work as part of a team and be open to receiving feedback and learning from others.
• Ability to build and maintain positive relationships with all staff members.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Competence in handling sensitive information with discretion and maintaining confidentiality.
• Ability to handle and support vulnerable clients with empathy and sensitivity, ensuring their needs are appropriately addressed.

2. Personal Attributes

• High level of professionalism and integrity.
• Ability to work independently and proactively without supervision.
• Capacity to remain calm and effective under pressure, adopting a “find a solution, no blame” attitude.
• Open-minded, inclusive, and collaborative approach, seeking fresh and alternative perspectives.
• Commitment to empowering others by sharing knowledge and enabling action.
• Strong alignment with Toynbee Hall’s mission, strategy, and values.
• Willingness to participate in training and develop further understanding in areas such as safeguarding.
• Willingness to work from our advice locations to shadow experienced advisors in both face-to-face and call centre settings.

Desirable Criteria

• Previous experience of giving advice (not necessarily debt advice).
• Ability to speak more than one language.

Our Benefits

Annual Leave

• 25 days of annual leave, plus 3 additional days for our Christmas shutdown (on top of bank holidays)
• After 2 years: +3 extra days of leave.
• After 3 years: +1 additional day.
• After 5 years: A total of 30 days annual leave, plus the 3-day Christmas shutdown.

Pension

• Standard Life Pension Scheme – Employer contribution: 4%, Employee contribution: 5%

Additional Perks & Support

• Enhanced Sick Pay for peace of mind during illness
• Enhanced Maternity & Paternity Leave to support growing families
• Employee Eyecare Vouchers to support your vision health
• Employee Assistance Programme for free, confidential advice and support
• Mental Health First Aid to ensure workplace well-being
• Tenancy Deposit Scheme to help secure your home
• Interest-Free Season Ticket Loan for cost-effective commuting
• Cycle to Work Scheme to promote a healthier, greener way to travel
• Charity Mentoring Network to support professional development and networking
• Westfield Health Cash Plan to cover your healthcare needs specified in the Policy
• Perk Box
• Life Insurance

About Us

Bridges Outcomes Partnerships (BOP) is a not-for-profit social enterprise that works alongside Government, community groups and specialist Delivery partners to design and deliver vital services that support people to improve their lives, in areas ranging from housing and employment to education and health & wellbeing.

The role of BOP spans project development (working with Government and others to design and launch the service), project management (coordinating the delivery phase, managing performance, and liaising with the various stakeholders) and project finance (funding the project until it starts to earn outcomes payments). Our own funding comes from a group of pioneering social investors, including The Office for Civil Society, Big Society Capital, Pilotlight, Trust for London, who, like us, are motivated by improving lives and changing the system for the better.

About Kirklees Better Outcomes Partnership (KBOP)

KBOP is a mission driven social enterprise working with a partnership of expert delivery organisation to provide floating support to vulnerable people across Kirklees. Through following an asset-based approach focusing on people’s strengths and aspirations, we enable people to secure accommodation and to give them the skills required to sustain these tenancies independently over time, with a key focus on helping people into employment. 

The project is an outcomes contract where we are paid for enabling people to achieve positive improvements in their lives relating to accommodation, education, employment and wellbeing. This model allows flexibility in how the service is delivered with a focus on evolving the service delivery model over time to best enable the people we support. The role of KBOP is to drive continuous improvement across the service, set the strategy for the programme, and manage key stakeholder relationships, including with Kirklees Council, the service commissioner.

About the Opportunity:

The Initial Engagement Co-ordinator is a pivotal role to the function of KBOP. Working alongside the Team Leader and KBOP Central Hub, the role is the first point of contact for any individual or referring body seeking to access support from KBOP.

The responsibility of this role is to listen and understand the experiences of anyone contacting KBOP to determine how our service can support and enable them to overcome their current challenges, achieving their goals and ambitions. Ensuring that individuals feel supported from the first point of accessing KBOP and any immediate needs met with verbal advice, support and guidance over the phone.

This role will determine that anyone referred into the service is eligible and all information required to ensure to direct someone to the most suitable delivery partner, is available on the referral form. Signposting to alternative services if KBOP cannot meet their requirements.

Key Responsibilities

· To engage with individuals contacting KBOP in a positive, asset focused way. Ensuring they feel heard and empowered to make their own decisions regarding the support they would like to receive.

· Clarifying ambitions, needs and eligibility of individuals seeking to access support from KBOP. Redirecting to other services if they do not have a housing need or currently accessing support from other services in Kirklees.

· If individual does have a housing need or is not currently supported by another services in Kirklees, assessing presenting ambition or needs to determine suitability for KBOP service.

· Once suitability has been confirmed,  providing initial advice, support and guidance to individuals or referring bodies seeking to access support from KBOP. Supporting any individual with low level guidance & interventions to ensure their needs are met and ambitions supported.

· Responding to any enquiry into the KBOP service. This will be via phone or email.

· Identify eligibility of initial enquiries to KBOP service – checking for completion of referral form & signature of participant giving consent. If individual is not eligible for the service redirecting to another suitable service within Kirklees.

· Ensuring all information fields on initial referral have been completed – prioritising personal contact information to ensure Delivery Partners have the right information to engage individuals as quickly as possible.

· Updating applicable IT systems such as CDP Soft to ensure all relevant data is recorded in the system.

· Working with the central KBOP team to determine suitable Delivery Partner and updating system accordingly.

· Contacting referral body or individual seeking to access KBOP to confirm outcome of the initial process.

·  Acting at all times in a positive, empowering, courteous and supportive manner to ensure any individual feels engaged with the KBOP programme.

Key Skills and Attributes for this role:

· Desire to support a unique impact-led project

· Commitment to listening to and empowering individuals to make their own choices.

· Good interpersonal skills with an ability to build rapport with a range of stakeholders

· High level of IT literacy with exceptional competence in excel

· Self motivated with an ability to work independently.

· Problem-solving skills

· Good analytical skills

· A methodical and logical approach

· Ability to plan work and meet deadlines

· Accuracy and attention to detail

· Able to work independently and as part of a team.

· Good standard of written and verbal communication skills. Able to collate and share information effectively. 

· Adaptable and comfortable working in a fast-paced environment

· Experience of working in a Local Authority context

· Experience of assessing referrals into or delivery of support services in Kirklees

What we will offer you

• We are a flexible employer and we will support you to ensure you achieve a healthy work life balance.

• You will be joining an incredibly dedicated, vibrant, dynamic and talented team of people who are deeply passionate about services which improve people’s lives and public sector reform.

• You will get 25 days’ annual leave plus 8 days for bank holidays plus a birthday leave day and 2 additional ‘gifted’ day/s between Christmas and New Year.

• We offer a Salary Sacrifice Pension Scheme with 5% Employer contribution

• We offer 4 x Life Insurance, Income Protection Insurance and Wellbeing benefits & resources.

• We also offer Private Medical Insurance on successful completion of your probation period (for permanent roles)

• You will be able to access Learning and Development opportunities.

Application process/next steps

PLEASE NOTE - we are only accepting applications through the Applied recruitment platform 

You’ll answer some questions that are related to the day-to-day job and will be asked to upload your CV. Your answers will go through our sift process: all answers will be anonymised, randomised and then reviewed by a panel of reviewers.

NB We value authenticity are looking for applications that genuinely reflect your own experience, skills, and motivation for the role. While we recognise that some candidates may use AI tools for light support (for example, to check grammar or structure), we ask that all answers and application content are predominantly your own work. This helps ensure a fair and meaningful assessment of every application.

If you are shortlisted, we’ll invite you to the next step, which will be first and second round interviews with some of our colleagues.

Bridges Outcomes Partnerships is an equal opportunities employer and ensures that no applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of gender, age, disability, religion, belief, sexual orientation, marital status, or race, or is disadvantaged by conditions or requirements which cannot be shown to be justifiable. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds and will make reasonable adjustments for any part of the recruitment process for candidates who meet the minimum criteria for the role. Please note, for this particular role candidates will require Right to Work in the UK.